This year, the Christmas holidays run from December 19, 2026 to January 3, 2027 and they’re a chance to enjoy the museums, exhibitions and monuments of the capital with the family. Between two Christmas markets or after a stroll past the illuminations, Paris’s cultural venues offer plenty of ideas to keep December days busy.
Major temporary exhibitions continue through the holiday season, while the museums’ permanent collections offer a chance to rediscover painting, fashion, photography, science, history or contemporary art. Several institutions also plan tours and workshops for children, especially popular during school breaks.
It's also a great time to rediscover the monuments of Paris and Île-de-France. Castles, historic sites and heritage landmarks can round out the itinerary, with some offering Christmas-themed scenery or special seasonal activities.
However, be aware of closures on December 25 and January 1, which vary by venue: it’s wise to check the opening hours and book before you visit.
Christmas holidays 2026: 10 exhibitions to see with the family in Paris and the Île-de-France region
Christmas holidays in 2026 are a great opportunity for families to discover the many exhibitions on offer in Paris and Île-de-France. With the festive illuminations, Christmas markets, and other seasonal outings, museums and cultural venues also offer a few warm hours when the temperatures dip. [Read more]
15 exhibitions to discover with children right now in Paris
Museums are not just for grown-ups! Yes, there is no age to appreciate art: the proof is in these exhibitions that will delight children and their parents/guardians/grandparents, in Paris and the Ile-de-France region. [Read more]
Tip: 5 free exhibitions to see with children in Paris and the Ile-de-France region
Treat yourself and your family to a great time for the modest sum of zero euros, with our selection of free exhibitions to discover with the kids! [Read more]
AI in Focus: An Educational Exhibition at the Air and Space Museum
Artificial intelligence is at the center of current affairs, but do you really know what it is? The Air and Space Museum offers a clear look at the topic with the exhibition Cap on AI, on view from October 15, 2026 to June 27, 2027. [Read more]
AURA INVALIDES, the must-see sound and light show in Paris
Looking for a unique nocturnal experience in Paris? Ready to be amazed and embark on a timeless journey to a legendary heritage site? Come and discover AURA INVALIDES, a sound and light show at the iconic Dôme des Invalides as night falls. A magical moment in the heart of the Dome, sure to delight young and old alike. [Read more]
Le Large opens its doors on Île Seguin with the Imaginary Engine exhibition.
The Imaginary Engine exhibition opens Large, the new contemporary art center on Île Seguin in Boulogne-Billancourt. Masterpieces from the Renault collection and brand-new creations respond to one another from October 17, 2026, to March 7, 2027. [Read more]
Le Paradox Museum Paris: more than 90 immersive experiences and a Hans & Gretel Café
Paradox Museum offers nearly a hundred immersive experiences—from trompe-l'œil illusions and optical tricks to sensory overhauls—that await visitors in Paris. Get ready to be tricked and to snap surreal photos. Five new interactive installations have just been added to the journey, making it the perfect time to challenge your senses! And as a bonus, a brand-new, ultra-delicious café, Hans & Gretel, is ready to tempt you. [Read more]
Back-to-school season in Paris: hands-on museums and family-friendly educational exhibitions
It's back-to-school season: after two months of summer break spent enjoying a bit of intellectual downtime, it's time to hit the books again. On Wednesdays and weekends, educational and hands-on museums are perfect for a family outing with the kids. [Read more]
Lady Liberty: the famous statue at the heart of an exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Trades.
The Museum of Arts and Crafts invites us into the secrets behind the construction of the Statue of Liberty, with the exhibition Lady Liberty, on view from September 22, 2026, to August 1, 2027. [Read more]
Villa Savoye: designer Matali Crasset unveils an exhibition inside this listed monument
From September 23, 2026 to January 11, 2027, the Villa Savoye in Poissy hosts "Le temps de la secousse," an exhibition by designer Matali Crasset. Sculptures, tapestries, ceramics, and embroidery converse with Le Corbusier's architecture. [Read more]
The House of Insects: a family-friendly museum to learn everything about little critters.
Located in Carrières-sous-Poissy, inside the Parc du Peuple de l’herbe, the Insect House invites visitors to discover live insects and their role in biodiversity. Open year‑round on a calendar adapted to school holidays, it offers a permanent exhibition along with workshops and activities for families. [Read more]
Back in the Day #3: The exhibition on the origins of color photography at the Cité des sciences
From December 1, 2026 to October 2027, the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie presents Machine arrière #3: Autochrome. This exhibition offers a journey through the origins of color photography and the invention of Autochrome, the first commercially available color photographic process at the dawn of the 20th century. [Read more]
Noah's World: An immersive experience of the animal world
Sponsored - Experience an extraordinary adventure in the heart of Paris: an immersive journey into the animal kingdom! [Read more]
Heritage in Resistance: From Timbuktu to Odessa, an Exhibition at the City of Architecture.
Sponsored - In Paris, the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine presents the exhibition Patrimoines en résistance : de Tombouctou à Odessa, running from May 20, 2026 to January 3, 2027, a look at heritage in wartime, where destruction, safeguarding, and rebuilding come into play. [Read more]
Frontier Exhibition at the Cité des sciences: Understanding borders around the world — our photos
The Frontière exhibition opens at the Cité des sciences et de l’industrie in Paris, offering an immersive journey about borders around the world, from April 14, 2026, to January 2, 2028. Designed for visitors aged 12 and up, it draws on ten concrete scenarios to explore the geographical, political, social, and artistic dimensions of lines that divide, of spaces people traverse, and of the tensions of our times. [Read more]
Funny Heists: A Caricature and History Exhibition at the Air and Space Museum
Discover the history of airplanes and balloons through vintage cartoons in a fun and engaging exhibition at the Museum of Air and Space. Don’t miss "Hilarious Flights," running from June 27, 2026, to January 3, 2027. [Read more]
Following in the footsteps of dinosaurs: an immersive exhibit at the Great Gallery of Evolution at the Museum
Step into the shoes of paleontologists and embark on a journey to explore the world of dinosaurs. This engaging and immersive educational exhibition will be on display from July 16, 2026, through January 2028. [Read more]
Artists at the Museum: A Special Anniversary Exhibition Celebrates 400 Years of the National Museum of Natural History
The National Museum of Natural History in Paris is celebrating its 400th anniversary with a major exhibition, running from September 23, 2026, to March 7, 2027. Explore the Museum's artists across the centuries and discover the rich artistic heritage intertwined with its scientific legacy. [Read more]
ZEUS, the iconic metal horse from the Olympics, on display for free at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Paris
Zeus, the mechanical horse from the Olympic Games that captured everyone's hearts, has now arrived at the Musée des Arts et Métiers in Paris. The towering steel colossus is open to the public free of charge from December 17, 2025, to January 10, 2027. [Read more]
La Maison des Histoires: an immersive place to marvel at with the whole family, at Bastille
From July 9, 2025, the Maison des Histoires will open its doors in the Bastille district, allowing the general public to immerse themselves in the imaginary world of children's books from l'école des loisirs. [Read more]
La Cité des Enfants, for discovering and understanding the world around us, ages 5 to 10
The Cité des enfants at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie is the Parisian place par excellence for learning and experimentation. For 5-10 year-olds, children discover the world around them using their five senses. [Read more]
Transparence, the first exhibition of the new Palais des Enfants, at the Palais de la Découverte
It's a date we've all been waiting for: the Palais de la Découverte, which has been closed for renovation work for several years, will finally reopen its doors in 2025, with a brand new area dedicated to families, the Palais des enfants. An exhibition on the theme of Transparency is presented for the inauguration. [Read more]
A new exhibition space opens at the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace (93)
From June 24, 2025, the Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace will be offering an enriched tour, including a new exhibition space. [Read more]
The Hangar Y's contemporary open-air exhibition is back! An artistic stroll in the green
The Hangar Y, which conceals a 10-hectare natural area planted with trees, offers a year-round open-air art walk, free on weekdays and €3 with access to the Hangar on weekends. Since April 28, 2025, new works have been added to the circuit. From Erwin Wurm and Lionel Sabatte to Pauline Tralongo and Odile Decq, it's time for an unusual, unplugged stroll through the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine. [Read more]
Le Bouillon Kids, a fun, family-friendly cultural venue with games room, at Les Ateliers Gaîté
Right in the heart of the Ateliers Gaîtés, in the Montparnasse district, Bouillon Kids offers children the chance to discover a rather special exhibition space, with play areas included in the tour. [Read more]
The Retro-Gaming Museum, for fans of vintage video games and pinball machines
From the beginnings of video games to today's latest consoles, come and discover the history of retro-gaming and, above all, try your hand at different consoles and pinball machines! [Read more]
La Cité de l'Histoire, our test of the immersive French History experience at La Défense
Ready to plunge into the great History of France? The first Cité de l'Histoire is opening its doors in La Défense's Grande Arche, with a fun, immersive tour of our shared past. [Read more]
Musée de Poche: a small art gallery and bookshop with creative workshops for children
At the Musée de Poche, children can enjoy workshops and activities in this small space between gallery and bookshop, where creativity is the order of the day, in the heart of Paris's 11th arrondissement. [Read more]
Science Experiences, the concept between museum and theme park at Bercy Village
Science Expériences is a unique concept combining museum and amusement park to bring science to life for children. With scientific experiments, virtual reality and video mapping, it uses the latest technologies to bring science to life for children... [Read more]
The Petit Moulin des Vaux de Cernay is transformed into a cultural restaurant with terrace (78)
Alert friends, the famous little Moulin des Vaux de Cernay in the Vallée de Chevreuse in the Yvelines (78), is being revived and transformed into a cultural restaurant that combines a place to eat, have a drink and relax in the sun with a cultural gallery where you can enjoy ephemeral exhibitions in a place steeped in history. [Read more]
Le Rambolitrain, model train museum in Rambouillet (78)
In Rambouillet, in the Yvelines department, Rambolitrain boasts a unique collection of toy trains, whether miniature or life-size. History, scale models and guided tours: welcome to the temple of the toy train! [Read more]
Maison Poincaré: we visited the very first mathematics museum in Paris
The Maison Poincaré, nestled in the heart of Paris's Latin Quarter, invites you to discover the capital's very first mathematics museum from September 30, 2023. Inspired by the world's greatest science museums, this unique venue promises to illuminate the history, influence and wonders of mathematics for all the curious! We tell you all about it! [Read more]
MIDAN, a naive art museum nestled in a country house in Vicq (78)
The Musée international d'art naïf d'île-de-France (MIDAN) is located in Vicq, a small town in the Yvelines department of France, a cultural venue dedicated to a little-known yet very rich artistic movement. [Read more]
Mission spatiale, the new permanent exhibition in the stars at the Cité des sciences
Take a trip into space from October 23, 2023 at the Cité des sciences et de l'industrie, with a new permanent exhibition on the conquest of space. [Read more]
The Durfort Mammoth at the Paris Natural History Museum, restored!
(Re)discover at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, Paris, the newly restored "Mammouth de Durfort", an icon of paleontology on display since 1898. [Read more]
Bio-inspired, the new permanent exhibition at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie
Look out, here it is: the new permanent exhibition that will fascinate us to no end. "Bio-inspired" takes up residence at the Cité des Sciences et de l'Industrie from September 18, 2020. A great introduction to talking about the environment and sustainable solutions with children and grown-ups alike. [Read more]
So, where do we start?
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Dates and Opening Time
From December 20, 2025 to January 4, 2026
